Bring your own towel, reef safe sunscreen, and take either a waterproof case for your phone, or a camera you can take underwater. You do not want to miss out taking pics or videos underwater of this experience! Our boat captain, crew, and snorkeling guide were friendly, informative, and funny! We had an awesome catamaran ride, and enjoyable, informative time snorkeling. They provided us with all the snorkeling gear we needed, water, and then cocktails and snacks after the snorkeling. We learned a lot about sea turtles, saw a lot of turtles, stingray, sea urchins, fish, and a lot of other cool stuff! I’m so happy we went on this excursion… definitely book it, you will not be disappointed!
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Use of snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, snorkel vest, fins)
- Local guide
- Unlimited Drinks (alcoholic beverages after in-water activities)
- Snacks
Excludes
- Gratuities (suggested)
- Souvenir T-Shirts and Dri-Fit Shirts (available for purchase)
- Guest provides own transportation to and from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Guest is to provide their own transportation to the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. Check in with security and make your way to the DOCK and follow signs that say public access to beach. Arrive 30 minutes prior to trip departure time. We are cannot accommodate late arrivals. *Reference map in photos.
Return
- Guest is to provide their own transportation to the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. Check in with security and make your way to the DOCK and follow signs that say public access to beach. Arrive 30 minutes prior to trip departure time. We are cannot accommodate late arrivals. *Reference map in photos.
Itinerary
Arrive at 12:30pm to check-in with The VI Cat crew on the wooden dock of the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. Tour departs promptly at 1pm (AST - Atlantic Standard Time). Guest is to provide their own transportation to the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. After checking in with security, follow signs that say "public access to the beach". Free parking can be found in a large gravel parking lot on the right hand side AFTER the security booth.
Board 'The Cat', a spacious 54-foot sailing catamaran for an exhilarating sail to the uninhabited Little Buck Island, located off of St Thomas. You'll snorkel at Turtle Cove, Little Buck Island, the National Wildlife Refuge, where you'll experience an unforgettable, fun-filled, marine life adventure. Your friendly crew will provide snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, snorkel vest), brief instruction and safety tips and if needed, a beginner's snorkeling lesson when you reach Little Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge. You may choose to swim and snorkel in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, tan on the special deck of the catamaran, or relax in the shaded cabin area. However you choose to spend your day on the boat, you will no doubt have fun! Water, light snacks and a variety of beverages. NOTE: Alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks are served AFTER the snorkeling/in-water portion of snorkel & sail trips.
Enjoy the relaxing sail back to the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove, where your fun-filled tour will conclude.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
The captain, Mike and the entire crew were absolutely amazing - Anders and Coralee (I hope I got it straight - may blame the pain killers (drinks!!!) They made us feel very comfortable and informed boarding. Once we got settled we took in the beautiful views - very spacious! The snorkeling adventure was so fun and we got to learn about many fish, see many sea turtles and even spotted a stingray. The way back sailing for a good portion and enjoying the drinks and snacks! We felt safe, taken care of very well and traveled with our 12 and 10 year old girls who are still talking about the turtles. Highly recommend - the time of the trip was plenty for us!
Friendly staff, great information as we snorkeled, it was amazing for the leader to point out all the interesting fish and even pick up a snail and crab from the floor. It was about a perfect length of time. They were very kind even when I got a little seasick they helped me out as much as they could. Don't worry I get seasick easily and did really well except for snorkeling. The atmosphere was so relaxed. Definitely worth it for the price.
Lovely experience, went on my birthday with my spouse. The guys on board were very friendly and we felt safe at all times. We saw a few sea turtles, a barracuda, a sting ray, and many colored tropical fish. The ride back to dock was just as fun! Highly recommend
Beautiful boat and timely departure. Majority of excursion is guide based; snorkel as a group with your guide. Guide (Willie) was knowledgeable and appropriately supportive of all levels of snorkel skill. Would recommend for the beautiful catamaran ride, supportive crew, quality snorkel equipment, and complementary beverages on the return to harbor. Also, compared to other tours, this trip has the BEST sound system for Caribbean music. Serious perk!
Fun trip with a great crew! Crew was extremely friendly offering Painkillers & other drinks onboard with light snacks. While snorkeling we saw a baby reef shark, baricudas, 3 sea turtles & lots of fish. Boat ride was super fun. Highly recommend!
The crew was great, very informational! we enjoyed snorkeling and the beautiful views around us. We saw sea turtles, many fish, many sea urchins even an octopus's eye because he was hidden in his home.
So fun seeing turtles, but very little fish. Would be nice to maybe be taken to different site for more fish
We had a great time! The snorkel tour and boat ride was perfect. Staff was professional and kept safety top of mind. We saw turtles, a reef shark, and barracuda.
Let's start with the staff. They are amazing and fun and funny and are helpful in every way. Nashan is awesome and fun to cut up with. When you book this excursion tell him his boy Lala said hi and the stories start. We saw so many fish and beautiful sea life. Nashan our water guide educates you on the marine life while you are snorkeling. It was super safe and such an amazing time we will be back for sure. Thank you to the amazing staff on our boat.
It was a great day aboard the VI Cat with captain Mike and his crew. The crew was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. We were out on 10/6 for my birthday!! We will be back!
Our family of four had a great time! There were a lot of people before boarding the boat so we were a bit anxious we wouldn’t have a place to relax but the boat surprisingly fit all of us well. Everyone was patient and had great attitudes and most important were concerned about our safety. Would definitely book this tour again. Thank you!
Great experience traveling to Buck Island.. staff was pleasant and seeing turtles and colorful fish was amazing..
Easy trip since left from the beach of Marriott vacation club
Crew was very personable and answered all of our questions. The VI Cat was comfortable and clean, and Turtle Cove was full of not only Green Sea turtles, but also many kinds of fish, urchins, and even a sting ray. Awesome experience.
This was such a fun time and totally worth the trip! It is couples and family friendly. The guides and crew were amazing! Very helpful and attentive. Thanks to Captain Mike, Dan, Nashan, and Lane! The boat ride was smooth with plenty of room on the boat and we even sailed on the way back! The snorkel guides were informative and they provided all the snorkel gear and pool noodles. Turtle Cove was great for snorkeling with some cool corla, variety of fish, and sea turtles! The drinks and snacks were very refreshing after the snorkel. They even make virgin painkillers for those that don't do alcohol. It was a fun and relaxing adventure that I would highly reccommend for everyone!
The snorkeling experience and the crew David, Dan, Adrian were amazing whether it is your first snorkeling experience or you have been snorkeling many times before the crew is what made this experience amazing! Highly recommend booking a snorkeling experience with this crew!
Crew was amazing!!! Super fun experience; the crew made the afternoon such a good time!
We loved our tour with the Vi Cat! The boat was spacious and clean. Also had a bathroom. The crew was very nice and helpful. They were very knowledgeable and kept everyone safe. They made my friend feel comfortable when getting into the water even though she was very nervous. We got a little behind in the water when my daughter’s mask kept sliding down and letting water in. Dan stayed with us and helped my daughter get it corrected. All the crew was patient and made sure we saw sea turtles, coral reef, and colorful fish. We also saw a barracuda. Cora Lee was in training, but she did great leading the group and spotting turtles. Nishawn was also nice and great. On the way back, they served us veggies, chips n salsa, and drinks. Music playing. It was a great day! My only suggestion would be to somehow include transportation to and from the cruise port so guests don’t have to worry about that. Most tours I’ve done in the past includes the tour operator picking us up. That is a big plus. Just a little suggestion. But the tour was wonderful. Thank you!!
Good day with very good crew staff! The experience was great, good snorkeling and nice stop at the beach!
Captain Mike was knowledgeable, the crew was professional, & they were focused #1 on our safety BUT just as important was their focus on our enjoying the experience. The Chief Mate, Nashon, gave an engaging history of local landmarks, buildings & culture. The geography was unmatched in beauty! Now for the best part: snorkeling w/ the sea turtles! We got to see them immediately! We watched a sea turtle eat a jellyfish! And we got to see a spiny star fish! We spotted ALL kinds of local fish species INCLUDING DORY the blue tang! Nashon taught us about all the wildlife we saw. We were treated to food, fun, & Fellowship on the way back. And we OFFICIALLY SAILED THE CARIBBEAN on the way back by securing the engine & sailing under canvas! Special shout out to Leslie for being a top notch Bosun! And the green hand Lane was awesome. 10 outta 10 would recommend! Go get your reservation w/ them ASAP!
We had such a great time on the VI Cat turtle tour! The snorkeling was amazing. We saw sea turtles, tons of different fish, eels, and even an octopus. The crew was awesome, super friendly and down-to-earth, and made the whole experience so much fun. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip to St. Thomas. Highly recommend!
Really great experience. Worth the money and the staff was excellent.
I was so excited for this excursion and it did not disappoint. This was my second different trip on The VI Cat with a different crew and it was great. We sailed to Little Buck Island and our Capt and crew Leslie made sure our vests, mask and snorkel and fins fit appropriately. If you wished, swim noodles were provided to help you relax and float. Our guide Yancy lead us right to 5 different turtles eating grass at the bottom. He pointed out urchins, fish and coral that we were seeing. I never felt rushed and enjoyed our time in the water. He answered all questions we asked. Back in the boat we enjoyed drinks, leaded and unleaded, and snacks as we sailed back to dock, enjoying the view of the islands. Don't miss a chance to sail with The VI Cat and any of their outstanding crews. It is a not to be missed experience.
The trip was great, the crew was great. We watched a few different turtles and barracuda. Went around the reef and watched several different fish and crabs
We had a wonderful time! The crew was fun and kind. The trip was the perfect length of time. Snorkeling was awesome all around great activity for the family!
Safe and fun snorkeling activity! Friendly staff and very knowledgeable! Would be definitely book this again !
Excellent…would highly recommend to anyone
The tour was a lot of fun. The 3.5 hour timeframe was perfect, longer tours get tedious on the return. We didn’t expect a guided tour, but this guided tour was OK, I think they realized we were experienced and gave us some space. We would have liked to spend time on the trampoline, but I guess that was a coast guard regulation that didn’t allow us to use them. We were staying at the Marriott so leaving from the dock at Frenchman’s was perfect, so easy. The snacks were good, love good veggies. Great music. Liked being under sail on the way back. To sum up the day, it was all business on the way out, good snorkeling, saw turtles, party on the way back. Highly recommend.
Had a great time, guides and crew were awesome and knowledgeable. Peaceful setting even easy for smaller children to enjoy
We received info in a timely manner prior to arrival so we knew exactly where to go and what time to arrive. On arrival, the staff were all very friendly and professional. We received a thorough briefing with clear rules and expectations. During our ride out, I noticed the staff rotating around getting to know the guests instead of congregating together and ignoring us, which was nice. Safety briefings were quick and to the point. Everything was well coordinated and went very smoothly. Once we were in the water, our guide took us straight to the turtles and made sure we all had a chance to see them. We had a large variety of drink choices and some nice snacks on the way back. Very enjoyable trip. We had a great time and would highly recommend the VI Cat to anyone on St Thomas interested in a snorkeling trip. Capt Dave, Dan, and Yancey were all great!
The captain was crabby. The surface of the boat was scorching hot (when required to take shoes off to get on which makes sense but when the surface is miserable to walk on that is awful)! Only time captain was pleasant was when he was talking his tips. We used different company last year and it was much more enjoyable.
We saw 3 sea turtles almost immediately after getting in the water. Staff was great and really nice. Unlimited pain kill cocktails was icing on the cake.
The crew was great, so friendly and helpful. The boat is beautiful and well kept. We saw some turtles and cool fish (look near the rocks for eels!) … Just be aware that the itinerary you get sent is not what you do. We were given info that said it would be a 20-25 min boat ride to the island, we would snorkel for over 2 hours, and have a 20 minute boat ride back. We snorkeled for maybe an hour and then sailed back, which was an hour long. I wish that would have been more clear. While the title of the activity is “snorkel and sail” the details should be more accurate. I still recommend this though!
The excursion was okay overall. The crew was very nice and friendly, and the water was beautiful. We were able to get in the water and see three sea turtles and some colorful fish, which was nice. However, there wasn’t much entertainment during the excursion, and there wasn’t a lot to see besides the turtles and a few fish. I was expecting a little more activity or entertainment throughout the trip. Overall, the crew was great and the water was beautiful, but the excursion itself was just okay and didn’t quite meet my expectations.
I had to put on the waiting list, luckily I received an email a few days later some spots opened. The tour was amazing we saw so much sea life. I did get nauseous at some point & the staff was very kind & friendly to me. Gave me a barf bag, water, ice, they made sure I was good. It was a little tricky to find the meet up point but over all an amazing time. Awesome crew! Would recommend
Had an amazing snorkeling trip with the crew. The guide was awesome. Saw many sea turtles, sting ray, octopus and many fish in the reef. The wife and I had a great time.
Excellent experience, friendly guides and service.
There’s nothing quite like a catamaran and snorkeling! We had an amazing time swimming with the turtles. The captain and guides were fantastic at organizing everything and keeping us safe. Highly recommended. .
Such a wonderful experience! Unlike other trips, this is a 3 hour affair which makes it manageable yet long enough to enjoy witnessing the amazing sea life! The crew was professional and fun! Highly recommended!
Our favorite part of the trip was probably the boat ride itself! They used the motors to get over to the island and the sail to get back so that was a fun unique experience for us. The snorkeling was also great and we saw one of the 2 turtles on this trip the second we jumped off of the boat. There are quite a few other boats that come at the same time so there can be quite a few snorkelers out there at the same time, but overall we had a great time and would do it again!
If you’re looking for the best snorkeling excursion in St. Thomas, look no further! Our Turtle Cove Catamaran Snorkel & Sail Adventure to Little Buck Island was absolutely unforgettable from start to finish, and I cannot recommend Saint Thomas Water Sports enough! Before our trip, I booked directly with Natalie and Kianna, and they were absolutely phenomenal! They were so knowledgeable, kind, professional, and incredibly patient. Since this was our first time visiting St. Thomas and our first snorkeling excursion, they explained everything we needed to know—from exactly what to bring, where to meet, what time to arrive, and what to expect throughout the day. They made the entire booking process completely stress-free and so easy. They truly went above and beyond with their customer service and are both absolute rays of sunshine! Their kindness and attention to detail immediately made us feel excited and confident about our adventure. The day of our excursion was even better than we could have imagined! Our crew consisted of Captain Phillip, Nahshon, and Dan, and they were absolutely incredible. From the moment we stepped aboard, they made everyone feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe. They carefully explained everything before we entered the water, made sure everyone was properly fitted with snorkeling equipment, and even provided pool noodles along with life jackets, which made snorkeling so much easier—especially since it was my very first time! They made what could have been an intimidating experience feel relaxing, exciting, and fun. A special shout-out has to go to Nahshon, our snorkeling guide, who truly made this experience one I’ll never forget. He is an absolute expert and so incredibly passionate about what he does. Throughout the snorkel, he guided us to multiple locations instead of just one, making sure we experienced everything Little Buck Island had to offer. He pointed out beautiful sea turtles, colorful tropical fish, conchs, coral, and so much other marine life while explaining the history of the area, the ecosystem, and what we were seeing. His knowledge was amazing, and you could genuinely tell how much he loves sharing it with others. What impressed me most was how much Nahshon cared about every single person in the group. He made sure everyone felt included, safe, comfortable, and confident in the water. He answered every question with kindness, professionalism, and enthusiasm, and he constantly adapted the experience based on what everyone was interested in seeing. His positive energy was contagious—he had everyone smiling, laughing, exploring, and truly enjoying every minute. He’s an absolute ray of sunshine whose passion for the ocean shines through in everything he does. Our happiness genuinely felt like his number one priority, and because of him, this became one of the most memorable experiences of our entire vacation. After snorkeling, the fun didn’t stop! The entire crew continued to go above and beyond to make sure everyone was having the best time. They played great music, provided delicious snacks, created such a fun and welcoming atmosphere, and were more than happy to take photos for everyone once we were safely back onboard. They never made anyone feel rushed and truly wanted everyone to enjoy every moment. Everything Natalie and Kianna told us beforehand was exactly right, and the entire experience exceeded every expectation we had. From booking the excursion to stepping off the catamaran at the end of the day, every single person we interacted with provided exceptional customer service and made us feel like family. This was my very first snorkeling experience, and it honestly couldn’t have been more perfect. It was unforgettable, breathtaking, educational, relaxing, and so much fun all at the same time. I would recommend this excursion to anyone visiting St. Thomas without hesitation. Thank you, Natalie, Kianna, Captain Phillip, Nahshon, and Dan, for making our first snorkeling adventure so incredible. We can’t wait to come back and do it all over again! It was definitely worth the price of it!! :)
Check in was long ..hot. ...way to crowded when snorkeling not too much to see... you could easily get mixed with another group had to stay together with 50 people ..
Fantastic tour. The captain and crew were great. Let us directly to sea turtles. Got to see lots of turtles up close and lots of fish. The drinks were good, Catamaran ride was fantastic.
Great crew! Great Time! They are very personable and helpful and fun to be around. Would recommend for anyone coming to st Thomas
Crew was great. Saw several turtles and colorful fish and stingrays.
Wonderful crew and beautiful boat! Fun trip but make sure you have the water proof pouches for your phone! You will want to take pictures!!
Great experience & we had a ball!
Great time with a great crew! We enjoyed the trip from start ti finish! We saw tons of fish and several sea turtles. Mary from Chapin,SC was our guide and she did excellent! I would highly recommend this excursion!
This was my daughter's Make A Wish dream! She wanted to swim with the sea turtles. This amazing crew made that happen. Captain Phillip, Sam, Adrian, Leslie, and Anders were phenomenal. She was very nervous about snorkeling and they made it so easy. She saw so many turtles, so close you have to remember you're not supposed to pet them, along with tons of fish and other sea creatures. I felt completely safe even though none of my family had ever snorkeled. I can't say enough about how great this team is! They truly created a once in a lifetime memory for a very brave girl who has been through so much, and continues to go through it, with her treatments. Captain Phillip and Sam even let my daughter drive the boat on the way back from Turtle Cove!
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